Journeys of my Soul, a Book from Livia Augustus

I Am Livia (More or Less)

If you don't want to learn anything, then put this book down. Ha! I'll bet half of you are already back to your mindless trivium, namely that box you all watch, or that facebook, where no one has the time to read the bleatings of others, but plenty of time to set down ones own.

As for the other half, well, there's hope for you yet. Why try to set the record straight now, some two thousand years after the fact? You wouldn't believe it if I told you. How am I, Livia Augusta writing at this very moment? We'll get to that later too.

I've had many names in my life; Livia Drusilla, Livia Julia, Claudia Livilla, Julia Augusta, but for our purposes, call me simply Livia. You will be my Locus Consultaris, my guest of honor; an honor you may have not wanted in the old days, what with all that nonsense about poisoning, but, even if I were such a monster, I'm disembodied now, and can harm no one.

A few bare facts, shall we? Since the Roman calendar has only 28 days, my birth date of January 30th, 58 BC, would have read as, three days into February, but we'll use your newer calendar. Also, 695 AUC was important to myself, as a Roman too. It, (anno urbis conditae) means I was born 695 years after the founding of Rome.

I was born into this world with the help of my Father, Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus and my Mother Alfidia. My Mother's family were rich equestrians around Fundia, along the Appian way, with a great deal of farmland, but no one of senatorial rank. My Father descended from the Claudians, land poor at the moment, but, along with the Julii and Livii, (which he was adopted into) part of the most powerful families in Italy.

History books see saw as to whether I was born in Fundia, or Fundi, or whether those names are simply a bastardization of the word latifundium, meaning estate. Well, I can tell you, I was born in Rome. No Claudian of my Father's rank had time to bury themselves in the countryside.

It serves us to revisit some of my more outstanding ancestors, not because they were moral examples, (though we were not hampered by Judeo-Christian ethics at that time), but because they were examples of the Claudian pride. We were known to be a haughty race, and dangerous too.

They say that the abduction of Verginia, (daughter of Lucius Verginius) by Appius Claudius caused terrible repercussions for the Claudians. Appius should have remembered the rape of Lucretia by Sextus Tarquinnius, (Son of Tarquinnius Superbus). Lucretia stabbed herself and died, rather than face the shame (though how it could be her shame is inexplicable), of being raped. Well, Lucius Junius Brutus spoke so eloquently, with so much wit at her funeral that, with Collatinus's help, the Oligarchy was abolished. A well set word can affect much.

One anecdote sticks in my mind; the one of Publius Claudius Pulcher, a consul, who in 249 BC attacked Carthaginian fleets at Drepana. Before battles, the use of prophetic chickens were customary, and they augured very ill indeed, refusing to eat. With that Publius was supposed to have said, "If they will not eat, let them drink.", and tossed 'em all overboard. Quando esse nolent indeed! Publius lost almost every ship, but was not asked to kill himself. which considering everything, was quite a miracle.

Which, if you'll listen, this is your first lesson. Wit and humor are not trivial, they are essential in any life. I see the bloated people of Americanus shuffle about as if life is some awful trial to be gotten through. Well, without wit, perhaps it is.

Caligula did not call me "Ulixes Stolatus" for nothing; and no, I'm not going to tell you what it means. Look it up, you lazy good for nothing. I say these things out of affection. Take a breath, put your shoulders back, and use that space between your ears.

I can hear you say... I can't make a difference. My dream is too difficult to realize. No one cares. That may be so, but if you truly care, that is enough to begin.

Even if all the world says you're wrong, that still doesn't make it true. Surely, you know that by now....don't you?

You got lots of response to your poetry on WWP on LinkedIn. They're panting for more

Author

Lillian K. Staats 3 years agofrom Wasilla, Alaska

Thank you Nell! I had sent out, (or thought I did), my poetry, and no one responded.Thanks so much for responding! love yaz, lily

Nell Rose 3 years agofrom England

Sheep? did someone say sheep? LOL! lily, behave! I loved this! take me back in history anyday, much better than the boring nows! Romans, ah don'tcha love em? they conquered us over here for six hundred years the sods! lol! mind you, they gave us roads, so I suppose they were good for something! loved this me dear! can't wait for some more! LOL! hugs nell

Author

Lillian K. Staats 3 years agofrom Wasilla, Alaska

Thank you for guiding my steps. I certainly want to eventually make money on it.I have no working car for the library, or $ for books, and only intermittent internet, but I;m doing what I can!

I know you are insanely busy helping people right now. Good man. Love yaz, lily

Yes. The style is Vintage you, which I always enjoy--esp. your irreverent attitude towards the audience--and the period is SUCH a delightful wash of corruption, murder, rape, gross grasping for power, incest, poisoning, violence, and sexual excess, I ,mean--they did have a ball, didn't they? No damn wonder Rome fell! And such fodder for a writer like you. One point, though--if you present Livia in Dickensian instalments on Hubpages.....the piece is technically "published". I'm going to look arund LinkedIn on your behalf--see if i can find a closed, invite-only fiction workshop, where anything you post s a work-in-progress, hence not regarded as 'published'.

Author

Lillian K. Staats 3 years agofrom Wasilla, Alaska

Well, unlike me, she can say what she wants, and altho the facts have to be correct, those huge gaps in knowledge about her life, I intend to let her tell me what happened.

My problem at the moment is no transpo to library, no money for books, and intermittant internet.

Baaaaaaa! (not) Well, my dear, the importance of Roman history (esp. thru the Voice of a celebrated and infamous lady) notwithstanding, a few of us do have the odd minor chore to attend to, like getting in the winter firewood, putting the John Deere to bed and slapping the snowblower awake, y'know, nonsense like that. i have a question for livia--is your purpose to offer some history or to entertain, using history as your framework? I rather hope the latter, 'cause we all love a racy story but historical "facts" can be dull as dishwater

Author

Lillian K. Staats 3 years agofrom Wasilla, Alaska

Bloody sheep; I thought better of you guys.

Author

Lillian K. Staats 3 years agofrom Wasilla, Alaska

I don't know if my work is being shared among hubbers. The only way I'll know is to receive comments.... hope to hear from you... love yaz, lily